A container includes a body; a first printing layer provided on an outer surface of the body and including a first printing section including a first set of halftone dots or a first solid; and a second printing layer provided on an outer surface of the body to overlap at least a printing area of the first printing layer, including a second set of halftone dots with a dot percentage equal to or greater than a dot percentage of the first set of halftone dots or a second solid, and having a printing area larger than the printing area of the first printing section.

A container includes a body; a first printing layer provided on an outer surface of the body and including a first printing section including a first set of halftone dots or a first solid; and a second printing layer provided on an outer surface of the body to overlap at least a printing area of the first printing layer, including a second set of halftone dots with a dot percentage equal to or greater than a dot percentage of the first set of halftone dots or a second solid, and having a printing area larger than the printing area of the first printing section.

Automated inspection technology is integrated with a cylindrical container print decorator machine to optimize the decoration process by making critical process and machine information properly and immediately available for corrective adjustments to the process. With this information, a high speed decoration machine operator will be made directly aware of the portions or subsystems of the decorator machine not functioning properly. The information directly facilitates, and can even recommend, corrective adjustments that are necessary to the decorator to better optimize printing functions. It is possible to use this information to optimize the operation of the decorator. It is possible to use this information by way of a properly configured control system, after specific augmentation capabilities are added to the decorator machine, to automatically close the loops with specific decorator printing machine parts or subsystems to dramatically improve the decorating process even while the machine is printing.

Automated inspection technology is integrated with a cylindrical container print decorator machine to optimize the decoration process by making critical process and machine information properly and immediately available for corrective adjustments to the process. With this information, a high speed decoration machine operator will be made directly aware of the portions or subsystems of the decorator machine not functioning properly. The information directly facilitates, and can even recommend, corrective adjustments that are necessary to the decorator to better optimize printing functions. It is possible to use this information to optimize the operation of the decorator. It is possible to use this information by way of a properly configured control system, after specific augmentation capabilities are added to the decorator machine, to automatically close the loops with specific decorator printing machine parts or subsystems to dramatically improve the decorating process even while the machine is printing.

The present invention relates to using soft secondary plates and specialty inks in a printing process. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of using soft secondary plates made of a rubber comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene or a photopolymer material to decorate an exterior surface of cylindrical metallic containers with high definition graphics and other indicia.

The present invention relates to using soft secondary plates and specialty inks in a printing process. More specifically, the present invention relates to an apparatus and methods of using soft secondary plates made of a rubber comprising a saturated chain of polymethylene or a photopolymer material to decorate an exterior surface of cylindrical metallic containers with high definition graphics and other indicia.

An apparatus and methods of decorating a metallic container are provided. More specifically, the present invention relates to apparatus and methods used to provide a decoration or indicia on a predetermined portion of an outer surface of a metallic container body. The decorator includes at least one digital print unit, a transfer blanket, and a support element. The digital print unit transfers a decorating material to the transfer blanket to form a decoration on the transfer blanket. The support element then moves a metallic container into contact with the transfer blanket. In this manner, the decorating material is transferred to an exterior surface portion of the metallic container to decorate the metallic container. In one embodiment, the digital print unit is an electrophotographic system which transfers a toner material to the transfer blanket. In another embodiment, the digital print unit includes an inkjet print head which transfers an ink to the transfer blanket. Optionally, the decorator may include two or more support elements.

A sports ball comprising a cover having an outer substrate surface is provided. The cover may include a plurality of panels, wherein each panel has a respective panel surface. The panel surfaces of the respective panels collectively comprise the outer substrate surface of the cover. A surface texture is disposed upon and additively applied to the outer substrate surface. The surface texture is disposed on the respective panel surfaces in customizable, panel-specific, predefined panel arrangements. The surface texture defines a surface profile that includes an alternating and repeating series of land areas and raised portions, wherein each raised portion is positioned between a plurality of land areas. The raised portions extend from the outer substrate surface and are formed from a dimensional ink, wherein each of the plurality of raised portions has a terminus spaced apart from the outer substrate by a height of greater than about 0.05 millimeters (mm).

Provided is a printing blanket that is unlikely to cause portions uncoated with ink even when the printing-applied surface has protrusions. The printing blanket according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a printing surface to be pressed against a printing plate on which the ink is placed and against the surface on which printing is applied and that is a target of printing. The printing blanket further includes a substrate, an inner coating layer covering at least part of the surface of the substrate, and an outer coating layer covering at least part of the surface of the inner coating layer that is on the side opposite the substrate. The inner coating layer has a smaller Asker C hardness than the substrate, and the outer coating layer has the printing surface on the side opposite the inner coating layer.

Provided is a printing blanket that is unlikely to cause portions uncoated with ink even when the printing-applied surface has protrusions. The printing blanket according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a printing surface to be pressed against a printing plate on which the ink is placed and against the surface on which printing is applied and that is a target of printing. The printing blanket further includes a substrate, an inner coating layer covering at least part of the surface of the substrate, and an outer coating layer covering at least part of the surface of the inner coating layer that is on the side opposite the substrate. The inner coating layer has a smaller Asker C hardness than the substrate, and the outer coating layer has the printing surface on the side opposite the inner coating layer.